By Amofokhai Williams
Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after a high-profile trip to the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW2026), where his administration signed a major economic partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and laid the groundwork to attract billions in green finance and foreign investment.
The president arrived back in Abuja today following his participation at ADSW, a global platform held from January 11–15 that convenes world leaders, investors and policymakers to accelerate sustainable development and address pressing climate and energy challenges.
The 2026 edition, themed “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” emphasised integrated approaches to climate finance, energy, technology and infrastructure.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) designed to deepen bilateral trade, boost investment and expand cooperation across strategic sectors, including renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, logistics and digital commerce. Officials said the deal will eliminate tariffs on thousands of goods, enhance technology transfer, and create new opportunities for exporters and investors on both sides.
Addressing delegates, Tinubu described the pact as a “historic and strategic” milestone in Nigeria’s economic diplomacy, signalling stronger ties with a key Middle Eastern partner.
He said the agreement would strengthen Nigeria’s role as a gateway for foreign investment into Africa, underpinning ambitious plans for economic diversification and industrial growth beyond oil.
A central highlight of the summit was Tinubu’s announcement that Nigeria and the UAE will co-host Investopia, a major global investment forum, in Lagos this February.
Established by the UAE to facilitate dialogue between investors, innovators and policymakers, Investopia aims to be a platform for converting ideas into action and mobilising capital for sustainable development.
Tinubu emphasised that Nigeria is seeking to mobilise up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance to support energy transition reforms and expand nationwide electricity access, a central theme of the presidency’s development agenda.
The figure reflects a broader push to leverage international private capital alongside reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s energy and sustainability sectors.
The engagements in Abu Dhabi also underscored Nigeria’s broader climate and sustainability agenda. Government sources highlighted the importance of forums like ADSW in translating commitments made at global climate talks into bankable projects and financing opportunities, a strategic step as Nigeria seeks to align economic growth with environmentally sound development.
Speaking to supporters of the partnership, analysts said that the CEPA and upcoming Investopia summit could catalyse new investment flows into Nigeria’s non-oil sectors, supporting job creation and critical infrastructure development if implementation hurdles are managed effectively.
